RWA president thrashes tenant after argument

An argument over membership charges at a gated community on Sohna Road turned ugly on Wednesday after the residents' welfare association (RWA) president allegedly assaulted one of the residents.

Five private security guards at Sispal Vihar in Sector 49, along with the main accused Col (retd.) SS Rathee (49), have been booked for assaulting tenant Karnav Talwar. The incident happened after a group of tenants protested alleged discrimination.

A case was registered at the Sadar police station against six persons under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for rioting, voluntarily causing hurt, house trespass and criminal intimidation. The accused were later released on bail, said the investigating officer, Tej Pal.

A group of "aggrieved" residents also met the Gurgaon deputy commissioner, PC Meena, on Wednesday night to share their complaints.

According to Gautam Gupta, a tenant, the RWA was levying extra charges for using the pool, gym and the guest house. Moreover, they have imposed a mandatory club membership charge on residents who don't even wish to avail the facility.

"While flat owners pay Rs. 500 for the pool, Rs. 1,300 for the gym and Rs. 700 for the guest house, tenants have to pay Rs. 1,500, Rs. 2,400 and Rs. 2,100 respectively for availing the same facilities," said Gautam.

Another resident, Gopal Pant, alleged that the RWA was sending guards to the tenants' flats to make unnecessary inquiries amounting to harassment. When they try to reason out issues, Rathee threatened them with dire consequences.

Sispal Vihar has around 1,200 flats, out of which nearly 900 are occupied by tenants. Most of them work at different IT companies in Gurgaon.

Rathee, however, could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts.